Who Is Michael Boes? Steak ‘n Shake Hires Chief MAHA Officer
Steak ‘n Shake has hired Michael Boes as its first chief MAHA officer, a newly created executive role tied to the fast‑food chain's growing alignment with the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement.
The Indianapolis-based burger chain announced the hire Tuesday on X, saying Boes will be responsible for advancing "nutritional integrity, ingredient transparency, and the healthiness of our products."
Why It Matters
The influence of MAHA is beginning to reach beyond government and advocacy groups into consumer-facing companies, particularly in the fast‑food industry.
Steak ‘n Shake is among the most visible restaurant brands to align itself with the movement and could potentially set a precedent for other fast-food chains.
What To Know
The new chief MAHA officer position at Steak ‘n Shake is focused on overseeing ingredient standards and broader nutrition-related decisions across the chain's menu.
The company described the role as central to restoring what it calls "the original spirit of American fast food: food that is simple, real, and delicious."
"Customers should never have to choose between taste and health," Boes said in the company's X post. "When restaurants commit to both, they serve better food and they build lasting trust."
Who Is Michael Boes?
Boes comes to Steak ‘n Shake from the public policy and health industry. According to his LinkedIn profile, he previously served at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he worked as senior adviser under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In a LinkedIn post confirming his new role, Boes described his work at HHS as focused on nutrition policy reform and promoting a return to "real food," saying those conversations informed his decision to join Steak ‘n Shake.
"During my time serving Secretary Kennedy, I had countless conversations with industry partners about returning to real food. Time and again, I heard the same hesitation: ‘Our customers aren’t demanding this.' Steak n Shake challenged that narrative - and growth followed," Boes wrote on LinkedIn.
"Fast food doesn’t have to mean processed, complicated, or artificial. It used to mean real, simple, and delicious - and it can again."
Boes also previously served as regional deputy director for HHS in North Texas, where he worked with hospital systems on chronic disease management, whole-food nutrition and health policy initiatives.
What Is MAHA?
The MAHA movement was launched in 2025 and is closely associated with Kennedy. It emphasizes changes to food systems, nutrition standards and ingredient policies, with a stated goal of reducing chronic disease and promoting whole foods.
The hiring arrives as Steak ‘n Shake has made a series of high‑profile menu changes aligned with MAHA principles. In early 2025, the chain switched its fries and tots to 100 percent beef tallow, eliminating seed oils across its restaurants.
The company has also touted its use of Grade A Wisconsin butter, A2 milk and cane-sugar Coca‑Cola, and announced earlier this year that it would remove all microwaves from restaurants, arguing that "quality restaurants don't need microwaves."
What Happens Next
The new chief MAHA officer role will likely guide decisions around ingredients and food preparation. That could include expanding existing initiatives tied to ingredient sourcing and nutrition, as well as influencing how new menu items are developed and marketed.
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 3:42 PM.